The Cost of Monopoly: How the U.S. Healthcare System Profits While Patients Suffer

The U.S. healthcare system is a well-oiled machine designed to churn out profits at the expense of its most vulnerable customers: the sick and desperate. Every year, millions of Americans pour their hard-earned money into health insurance, believing it will protect them when the unimaginable happens. Yet, when they need life-saving treatments, they're met with denial letters, endless bureaucracy, and astronomical bills.

The recent shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has thrust this broken system into the spotlight, raising questions that can no longer be ignored. It’s impossible to ignore the desperation and rage that drive these extreme actions. This tragedy is a symptom of a much larger problem—a system that prioritizes profit over people.

At its core, the U.S. healthcare system operates as a monopoly. A handful of insurance giants like UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and others dominate the market, dictating who gets care, how much it costs, and what treatments are deemed “necessary.”

They wield incredible power:

• Denying Coverage: Patients are routinely denied coverage for life-saving treatments under the guise of "cost control" or "lack of medical necessity."

• Skyrocketing Premiums: Insurance premiums and deductibles continue to climb, leaving many families unable to afford care even with coverage.

• Opaque Pricing: The system hides the true cost of care, making it nearly impossible for patients to make informed decisions.

  
  

This isn’t healthcare. This is a racket.

Insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare report billions in annual profits while simultaneously denying coverage for critical treatments. Patients with cancer, chronic illnesses, and rare conditions are left to fight an uphill battle just to access the care they’ve already paid for.

The system thrives on making people feel powerless. How many of us have heard, "Your claim has been denied," without knowing how to fight back? How many families have been forced into bankruptcy because an insurance company decided their child’s life wasn’t worth the cost of treatment?

The shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO is a sobering reminder of the human cost of this system. While the act of violence cannot be condoned, it forces us to confront the question: What drives someone to this breaking point?

Behind every headline is a story of desperation. Families losing loved ones because insurance denied a necessary surgery. Patients with chronic illnesses being told their treatment isn’t covered. These aren’t isolated incidents—they’re the norm.

The anger and hopelessness simmering beneath the surface are symptoms of a system that has dehumanized healthcare.

Here’s the reality:

• The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country, yet we rank poorly in outcomes.

  
  

• Insurance executives make millions in bonuses, while patients crowdsource for medical expenses.

  
  

• The government often turns a blind eye, unwilling to challenge the powerful healthcare lobby.

• 
  

This isn’t accidental—it’s by design. The system isn’t broken; it’s working exactly as intended to maximize profits for a select few.

We don’t need band-aid solutions; we need a complete overhaul:

1. Transparency: Hospitals and insurance companies must disclose pricing and coverage criteria.

2. Accountability: Denying life-saving care should come with consequences, not bonuses for cutting costs.

3. Universal Healthcare: Other developed nations have proven that universal healthcare systems can deliver better outcomes at lower costs.

   
   

The shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO is a grim and tragic reminder that people are more than numbers on a balance sheet. While the act itself is indefensible, the system that drove someone to such desperation is equally unforgivable.

We must hold these monopolistic companies accountable and demand a healthcare system that prioritizes humanity over profits. Until then, the U.S. will remain a nation where the sick are punished, the vulnerable are exploited, and the wealthy grow richer at the expense of everyone else.

This isn’t just about healthcare—it’s about justice, dignity, and the right to live without fear that your life will be deemed “too expensive.